Personal water craft, or PWCs as they have become known, after making a rapid entry into the market, have established themselves as a very popular boating medium internationally. Although I confess they are not my idea of a good time, I can see the attraction and the reasons for their success. But what do you get when you combine waterjet engineering and PWC styling with RIB technology and a deep V hull. The answer is the SeaDoo Explorer.

I had occasion to try my hand at one of these stylish little numbers earlier this month and I have to say it was a most interesting experience for two reasons. Firstly it was blowing a northerly force 7 and secondly, only a week earlier I had been testing a jet boat right at the other end of the evolutionary scale - a high spec. 7.5m diesel powered offshore commercial RIB with a Castoldi waterjet, built by Valiant in Portuagal. It made for an interesting comparison for the Explorer is a mere 3.96m in length and powered by a single 85hp Rotax marine power plant.


Don’t be put off by its size though. The Explorer packs a powerful punch and it’s every inch a capable sea boat. Hence it may not be so surprising to learn that several commercial organisations are considering the potential of these RIBs for use as fast harbour patrol or beach rescue craft.

Personally I don’t know why more RIBs aren’t designed with a handlebar motorbike style helm concrole. After all, RIBs already have much in common with their two wheeled cousins ashore. The Swedish Lifeboat Society have experimented with this alternative to the conventional wheel and found it most advantageous, so I believe. It certainly has an application or relevance to many RIBs, not least the explorer.

The advantages of a waterjet are now widely appreciated when it comes to to the matter of safety. Bearing in mind a craft like the explorer would primarily be used in busy inshore waters and that persons swimming close to or from the vessel can do so without the fear of being carved up by the propeller, the waterjet option understandably makes a lot of sense. Another advantage as well is the high degree of manoeuvrability a jet affords one.The explorer can spin like a top or stop in its own length and using its handlebar throttle control you quickly become master of all you survey!

Like most things though, there are disadvantages that need to be considered. Steerage in a following sea with this form of propulsion can be lost if not enough care or skill is taken. Equally the effect a waterjet can have when driven airborn off the top of a wave needs to be appreciated. Rather than maintaining forward momentum in the way a conventional drive does, a waterjet has the tendency to take on a stop-start motion each time the jet loses contact with the water. The smaller and lighter the boat, the greater the problem. The Explorer did suffer from this on the test day, it being particularly noticeable from the stern passenger seat where further handholds would have been of help, but as I said, the conditions were clearly outside the craft'’ usual recommended operating limits.

Putting this matter aside, she proved immensely stable and took the rough water and steep seas in her stride. Her full bow and sheer ensured that she didn’t stuff her nose and her overall balance assisting her head to sea capability. Even at full throttle (a speed I found myself unable to resist for a large proportion of the time!) the boat never faltered or misbehaved once.

One critisism I did have was with regard to the thumb operated throttle control, for the simple reason that my thumb got tired. I know I'm a wimp and all that but after an hour of playing around on this boat your thumb starts to feel the worse for wear, believe me!

Easy to launch, cheap to fuel and able to seat 3 people and their kit, the Explorer is truly a ready to go great fun craft. Whilst being functional, it remains pleasing in appearance with styling that enhances her lines, as opposed to making her look garish or too racy.

Stern lockers are located under the aft passenger seats providing useful stowage in addition to the small bow locker, plus the moulded non-slip deck and high grade hypalon fendering display definite quality of build. Its also good to see plenty of sponson handles and a sensible bow cleat provided.

Being 3.96m, the Explorer probably just outside the optimum length suitable for use as a stowable yacht tender, but though this may be the case, she remains a very relevant craft for a variety of leisure applications.

HMS

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